Pick A Stripey Old Japanese Truck: 1987 Mazda B2000 vs 1988 Toyota 4Runner

You know what’s missing from trucks these days? Stripes. Sporty editions of pickups and SUVs used to be adorned with stripes from the factory, and every manufacturer seemed to try to out-do each other with their cool patterns. Some were bold, some were subtle, but they all made the trucks look just a little cooler than the base model. Both of today’s competitors are so be-striped, though they don’t have a lot in common beyond that.

Yesterday wasn’t much of a fight, as it turned out; not very many of you liked the idea of doing a frame swap on a Jeep. It’s definitely in the “easier said than done” category. A lot of you who chose the Ford truck didn’t actually want it, but thought the idea of fixing it and flipping it was enticing.

I’m of the same mind. I like my Chevy truck more than that Ford, but I could probably sell that thing for twice as much up here in Michigan. It’s practically rust-free for around here. If I were twenty years younger, I might be interested in something like that Jeep project, just for the sake of doing it, but now, as a wise man once said, I’m too old for that shit.

Ever since automakers quit building trucks like these, people have been clamoring for them. For a long time, it wasn’t a problem, because there were plenty of them and they run forever. The trouble is that forever, as another wise man said, is a mighty long time. It’s impossible to find compact trucks or two-door SUVs that don’t already have two or three hundred thousand miles on them, and most of them look like it, too. These two are long in the tooth, and definitely have some battle scars, but they also have those cool stripes. Let’s see which one you prefer.

1987 Mazda B2000 SE-5 – $3,200

Engine/drivetrain: 2.0 liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD

Location: Centralia, WA

Odometer reading: 311,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

Ford and Mazda trucks had a symbiotic relationship for years: the old Ford Courier was really a Mazda, and from 1994 onwards, the Mazda B-series was really a Ford Ranger. But in between, the two companies each built their own trucks, and Mazda’s were really great. They’re tough, reliable, and nicer to drive than a lot of small trucks. That means, of course, that very few of them sat around gathering dust; they got used, and used hard. This one has well over 300,000 miles on it, and it’s nowhere near the highest mileage Mazda B-series I’ve ever seen.

The heart of this wonderful little truck is Mazda’s 2.0 liter FE four-cylinder, the same engine used in the 626 sedan at the time. It makes about 80 horsepower, which surprisingly feels like enough. This one has been modified a little bit, with a “Weber style” carburetor (seller’s words), which probably means a Chinese knockoff. It seems to work well enough, though, because the seller says it starts and runs just fine. It also appears to have a tube-style exhaust header, which I didn’t even know anybody made for these. I’m curious to know what it sounds like.

The SE-5 was the sporty model, and it came with a little nicer interior than the base model. It’s got carpet, a center console, and bucket seats with a cool fabric pattern to them. Considering the mileage, it’s in really good shape inside, but a couple things stand out: it looks like the ignition switch has been popped and replaced by a lock and a toggle switch on the console. Hey, it’s an old truck; stuff wears out, and you do what you have to do. Also, there are a few minor rips in the vinyl, which could spread if you’re not careful. But I guess there’s always duct tape. This is never going to be a show truck anyway.

Most of what makes it an SE-5 is on the outside: black bumpers and mirrors, chrome wheels, and of course, stripes. Some of the stripes are missing from the driver’s side, though; it looks like the left front fender has been replaced, and I don’t know what happened to the “SE-5” lettering on the rear flank. It’s there on the other side. Oh well, at least it’s not rusty. It comes with a nice fiberglass topper too, if you’re into that sort of thing.

1988 Toyota 4Runner SR5 – $3,500

Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter OHC V6, five-speed manual, 4WD

Location: Bonney Lake, WA

Odometer reading: 197,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

Take a Toyota pickup, remove the front wall of the bed and the rear wall of the cab, and permanently fuse the two together, and what do you get? The start of a dynasty. The first generation of 4Runner was the only version with a removable rear roof; after this it turned into nothing more than a jacked-up station wagon. Those later 4Runners sold like crazy, and still do, but they’ll never be as cool as the first generation. Some purists will tell you that even this one won’t do, and the only “good” 4Runner is the 1985 model with a solid front axle. But personally, I’ll give up a little off-road capability for the vastly improved on-road ride and handling of the independent front end.

Originally, the 4Runner was powered by Toyota’s famous 22R/22R-E four-cylinder, but beginning in 1988, a 3.0 liter V6 was offered. The V6 added some useful power, but it took the fuel economy from bad to “holy crap, that’s it?” This one has a five-speed manual, and it runs and drives great, according to the seller. It has a newer clutch, and a brand new starter.

When I first clicked on this ad, I wasn’t expecting to see a pristine interior, but honestly, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. The driver’s seat is worn out along the edge, and the driver’s door panel is half missing, but it doesn’t look abused. I think the door panel damage has to do with the damage to the door itself. I wish there were better photos, but from what I can see, it’s acceptable.

It’s kind of a mess outside, but anyone in the Midwest is going to immediately be impressed by the lack of rust on it. And nearly all the damage is on parts that bolt on, so it’s totally repairable. It includes a new front fender and a used door, but you’ll probably want to find a front bumper somewhere. This one will never be pretty either, but it can still be fun.

I imagine some of you will scoff at the prices of these, but go look at what a really nice B2000 or early 4Runner is going for these days. Prices are absolutely nuts. And if these two really are as mechanically good as they say, who cares how they look? You’ll enjoy driving an ugly truck way more than someone else will babying a pretty one. Which one would you rather have?